1589 A Sister

"I raised my children well and I taught them not to depend on any help, especially anything that comes from you.

I was stupid back then. I worked my ass off just to disprove some assholes who said I got here because of you or my mother.

You always visited me when you had the time but I was the one who kept our meetings short."

Varian covered his face and gritted his teeth, trying to hold back his tears.

"Maybe you noticed and respected my decision or maybe you didn't delve deep into it.

But I was avoiding you a bit and even my mother too.

I wanted to…prove myself first.

I thought…we'd have all the time in our world.

I was wrong.

You disappeared without warning and my mother busier than ever.

And then, the children grew up. And they had children.

The world was changing, new tides were rising. I tried to become the best in my field and I drowned in my career.

I don't even know how time passed…but when I came to my senses, Maya was dying."

"No!" Varian was screaming at everyone and no one. There was no rage in his voice, only grief. "Why is she dying? Why does she have to die? I can save her…they can save her…no…she doesn't have to die…"

Kyle showed a helpless smile. The smile with which a young girl named Maya fell in love long, long ago.

"She didn't want to live any longer. She said she had it all and just wants to go. I don't understand her really, but…I don't want her to be alone. So, I left with her." Kyle said with a loving smile as he thought of his wife.

A moment of silence passed.

Varian watched as tears glistened in Kyle's eyes and rolled down his cheeks. The digital tears split into millinons of little light particles and dissipated.

Rubbing his cheeks, Kyle asked him with a smile.

"Remember the first time you met?"

Varian nodded without thinking. It was after a duel with three.

"You beat three guys and won an impossible match. But your eyes were dead. She was a bit scared you know, but that's the thing about her, she can act despite the fear.

She gave you a well wisher note, one sisters give to their brothers twice every year in her city.

And then, tada! She became your sister from that day."

Kyle clapped his hand before his arms dropped and his eyes turned wet again. This time, the tears weren't stopping.

"She doesn't speak of you in front of the children. She doesn't want them to be dependent on you.

She doesn't speak about you to me. She doesn't want me to be sad.

But she kept two notes for you ever year until the day she died…it was also when she wrote the last note."

Varian moved his hand a little and a huge box appeared in front of him.

In it were stacks of little sheets of papers. The well wishing charms with a one-liner like:

The very first message she sent him

[Brother is the best.]

This was when she didn't want him to think of himself as a trash who couldn't even awaken. So, the sister told her brother that he's the best in the world.

[Brother is the most honest person]

This was when he was dangerously close to considering self-harm. Whenever she asked him, he'd lie about his situation and not reveal what's going on with him.

So, the sister asked her brother to be honest.

[Brother is the most kind hearted man, he won't hurt even an ant.]

As he was on the run for the first half of that year, she didn't get a chance to send him the note. And when she got the chance, Varian was wrecked with guilt over the deaths on Mars due to him killing Kreo.

So, the sister took it upon herself once again to tell her brother, even if he believed himself to be a bad and cold hearted person, she only saw a kind man who wanted to do good.

Varian could no longer hold himself back and weeped. Silently, holding the old notes in his hands with utmost care.

His heart, which weathered through storms of unimaginable proportions, cracked.

And it bled.

For the girl who showered him with kindness, for the woman who saw the good in him when even he couldn't.

For the sister he lost.

As his arms lost strength and the box fell off, the notes flew out, their messages flashing in his eyes, burning into his memory as they did.

[Brother, You deserve happiness. Never think you don't.]

[Brother, you are the reason our world is safe.]

[Brother, please take care of yourself during your hardships.]

[Brother, you may forget the lives you saved, but the lives you saved won't ever forget you.]

[Brother, I want my son to be as brave as you.]

[Brother, I hope you are safe.]

[Brother, I am very happy whenever I think of the time we spent in academy. Is it because times were so simple?]

[Brother, I want to see you at least once I before I die.]

[Brother, are you eating well?]

How many?

How many did she write?

For how many years did she keep writing them?

And why did she even write all this…for the man who might never return?

Wiping away his tears, Varian carefully placed them all back into the box and found the last note.

[Brother, this is my last note to you.

I'm sorry because I don't know what situation this note will find you.

But please remember this.

Even if you don't believe in yourself, there is a sister who always will.

You did the impossible.

Whatever comes your way, you will win!

There is no doubt about this.

And brother, sorry, Kyle asked me for one last help.]

"Kyle!"

When Varian raised his tear-stricken face, he saw Kyle dissipating while waving his hand at him with a smile.

"There were 50 billion souls in the federation, but I'm glad it was you!"

When Varian caught him, the hologram had already dissipated. Collapsing powerlessly, Varian read the ending of the note.

[When I gave you the first note, you promised that I'll be your sister from that day, no matter.

Then, Now and Forever.

So, somewhere in a corner of your heart, promise to remember me as your sweet little sister, okay?

Then, even in your world of storms, I will be a little flower in the darkness, giving you one more reason to smile.]